Would you be surprised to discover that your grandparents had sex more often than you do?

Chances are it’s true.

For many couples, life just seems to get in the way of finding time for sex or even simple pleasures. We’re a nation of busy, over-committed, stressed-out, sleep-deprived and just plain tired folks.

And, to make things harder on us, modern day society has conditioned us to look for and seek perfection in all areas of our lives, which leads to an ongoing state of frustration and dissatisfaction.

To allow for more joy and harmony in our lives, it’s time that we embrace the ancient Japanese art form known as Wabi Sabi.

Wabi Sabi honors all things old, weathered, worn, imperfect and impermanent by finding the beauty and perfection in the imperfections. For instance, if you had a large vase with a big crack down the middle of it, a Japanese art museum would put the vase on a pedestal and shine a light on the crack. Or, they might fill the crack with 24k gold! When we practice Wabi Sabi Love we can begin to appreciate our own and everyone else’s imperfection.

TAKE THE WABI SABI APPROACH TO PLEASURE

There is now ample research proving that pleasure (and sex) not only reduces stress, it also improves our health, overall wellbeing and longevity. This probably isn’t surprising and when was the last time you consciously added pleasure to your life?

The Wabi Sabi approach to pleasure doesn’t require much effort but rather small, simple actions. Begin by making a list of things that evoke pleasure in each of your senses and then promising yourself to take at least one pleasure break a day.

Here are a few of the ways I take quick, solo pleasure breaks:

I love the fragrance of scented candles as well as the warm, soft dancing of a flame, so I curl up in my favorite chair, light a candle and indulge for a few minutes with a piece for my favorite chili chocolates.

If I have had a particularly stressful day, I take a long, warm bath, soaking in my aromatherapy oils, surrounded by candles and soft music.

Or, if I want to pump up my energy, I put on a high energy, latin grooves CD of some of my favorite tunes, turn up the volume and dance like crazy.

It’s really quite simple…decide that for ten minutes each day for the next week you are going to schedule a pleasure break just for you, even it’s just making a cup of your favorite tea or stopping to literally smell the roses.

WABI SABI SEX

What if you made a date with your with your mate for a little Wabi Sabi sex?

Applying Wabi Sabi to your sex life means it’s ok that you’re too tired, too stressed or don’t have time, you just decide to do it anyway….even if nobody really wants too.

According to relationship guru, Alison Armstrong, just because you are not in the mood or feeling estranged or disconnected from your partner, doesn’t mean you can’t make the effort to reconnect and re-ignite the energizing, and life-giving forces of sex. Like riding a bike, you’ll quickly get back in the groove.

Be creative. Find a new time, a new place, a new way to initiate a connection.

Even if you feel silly, awkward, or strange, just go for it.

Remember this is Wabi Sabi sex. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

And, however the lovemaking turns out, whether it’s dull and routine or toe-curling ecstasy, choose to find the beauty and perfection in it. Know that it’s going to be great because you’ve made the effort to give yourself and your partner some attention, affection and hopefully pleasure.

When we allow ourselves to experience pleasure, we are relaxed and in the flow and it’s a zillion times easier to access our positive emotions. By taking the time to add pleasure to your life you will be calmer, happier, and more receptive to enjoying and receiving love at every level. You learn to accept the flaws, imperfections, and limitations – as well as the gifts and blessings – that form your shared history as a couple. Acceptance and its counterpart, understanding, are crucial to achieving relationship harmony. It’s is sacred love, the highest form of love, and like most things worth striving for in life requires patience, commitment, personal responsibility, and practice. Imagine how great you will feel when you know your partner loves all of you, all the time? The good, the bad, and everything in between!

To get access to 5 free videos on how to create more pleasure in your sex life, go here.

About Arielle Ford:

Arielle Ford is a highly influential personality in the personal growth and contemporary spirituality movement. For the past 25 years she has been promoting consciousness through all forms of media. She is the author of nine books including the international bestseller, THE SOULMATE SECRET: Manifest The Love of Your Life With The Law of Attraction. Her latest book is WABI SABI LOVE: The Ancient Art of Finding Perfect Love in Imperfect Relationships. www.wabisabilove.com

Have you ever wondered how these companies make their soap and what are some of these ingredients they put in it? Well all those big name ingredients which you can’t pronounce are chemicals that help either preserve the soap or is an additive so they can make more money. The truth is you only need a few ingredients and you can make it yourself!

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1. Dishwashing Soap

Ingredients

Empty bottle

1/2 a cup of castile soap

1 teaspoon of tea tree oil

1/8 a cup of purified water

1 tablespoon of vinegar

Just mix everything in the bottle by shaking it thoroughly and you now have your own dishwashing soap!

Use 2 tablespoons per load and add white vinegar in the rinse compartment.

Do you love spa products but hate how expensive they are? Did you know that you can make these items yourself at home and save hundreds of dollars (or make money by selling your own products)? We recently found a complete guide to creating spa products using essential oils that you can find here as well as a guide to creating your own high-end candles that you can find here.

Have you ever taken the time to read the labels on these expensive products you find that help cure some form of ailment? Well most of them have one of these seven ingredients. What many consumers do not realize is that you can get these ingredients yourself wholesale and save a ton of money!

1. Ashwagandha – This popular Asian herb helps with sleep and insomnia issues. Instead of buying products that market themselves as “sleep aids”, just buy this main ingredient. It will last you much longer!

2. Pomegranate Juice or Tomatoes – Most of the heart health products have pomegranate or lycopene which comes from tomatoes. Drink a glass of pom juice or eat one organic tomato a day and you are good to go!

3. Goji Berries – These little red berries from the Himalayas are loaded with antioxidants and help the body absorb iron.

6. Sea Buckthorn – Want to reverse aging, have glowing skin, or remove stretch marks? Sea buckthorn oil will do the trick! This is what most anti-aging cream companies don’t want you to know about!

7. Neem Oil – The next time you get a rash or or wound on your skin just put a little neem oil on it. Neem has also been known to help people with psoriasis, eczema, scabies and other skin issues. The next time you read any of those products that help with these ailments, most of them will show neem as the active ingredient.

Do you love spa products but hate how expensive they are? Did you know that you can make these items yourself at home and save hundreds of dollars (or make money by selling your own products)? We recently found a complete guide to creating spa products using essential oils that you can find here as well as a guide to creating your own high-end candles that you can find here.

Its that time of year where people start making new years resolutions and want to start losing weight. Here is a great simple and natural recipe from Dr. Oz on creating a drink that will boost your metabolism:

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Step 1 – Get yourself a large pitcher to make everything in.

Step 2 – Make 8 cups of organic green tea and pour it into the pitcher.

Step 3 – Slice up one tangerine and add to pithcer

Step 4 – Add a small handful of mint leaves

Step 5 – Stir it up really well and drink (try to drink a pitcher a day)

Note: If you want to kick it up a notch add some fresh squeezed lemon juice and this will help your liver. Why is this important? Because your liver plays a big part in breaking down fats. Here is a great video that explains how this works and offers a great weight loss tip.

If you are concerned that you might be losing your hair or just really want to see your hair shine and your scalp stay nice and smooth, here are the 5 best oils for natural hair growth and maintenance. Keep in mind these are the core ingredients that many of the expensive hair products use and you can buy these yourself from Amazon saving you a ton of money!

1. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has to be one of our most favorite products because it truly is one of those “cure all” products. The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil prevents the loss of proteins and replaces the natural oils lost when you shampoo your hair.

2. Olive Oil

Most hair loss is caused by the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and olive oil helps stop DHT from affecting your hair in this way. Olive oil is also known for enriching your scalp with nutrients that keeps your hair rich and full as well as ridding your skin of free radicals because it is loaded with antioxidants. If you want that rich shiny look that models have, olive oil is the trick they use!

3. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil is one of the best ways to fight Alopecia areata (the most common reason people lose their hair). Because it is a powerful antiseptic, the disinfecting properties fight off many viruses, fungi, and microbes which causes so many problems with peoples hair.

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4. Castor Oil

Castorl oil is another one of those “cure all” ingredients and because of its Ricinoleic Acid property (a strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungicidal agent), it protects the hair and scalp from infections. The omega-9 fatty acids and humectant properties in the oil moisturize and nourish hair leaving it thick, shiny and strong

5. Jojoba Oil

The way jojoba oil works is very simple: instead of penetrating your hair it actually seals up the hair folicle to keep the moisture in. Our bodies secrete a natural oil called sebum and we lose this oil over time. Jojoba oil helps keep it in!

Do you love spa products but hate how expensive they are? Did you know that you can make these items yourself at home and save hundreds of dollars (or make money by selling your own products)? We recently found a complete guide to creating spa products using essential oils that you can find here as well as a guide to creating your own high-end candles that you can find here.

With so many people suffering from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), we asked certified nutritionist and naturopathic doctor John Adams what should people know about IBS and how can they cure or treat it. The most important thing he said is that IBS can be healed and that sufferers do not have to rely on drugs or surgery.

What is IBS?

It is when your digestion system is not functioning properly and can no longer process and digest foods in a healthy way.

Why are so many people suffering from IBS?

There are five main reasons why people are suffering from IBS:

Poor diets – Because many people are eating foods that are hard to digest so over time, their digestive system breaks down and starts to experience what has been termed IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Simply put, those suffering from IBS have a digestion system that is “broken” and no longer works.

Unhealthy Bowel Movements – If you have been watching Dr Oz, he confirms that we need to have healthy bowel movements every day (ideally 2 or 3). Most people barely have 1 a day. When food sits in your stomach too long and you become constipated, it rots and ferments causing you to become sick.

Lack Of Good Bacteria – By now most people have heard of “probiotics”. We need good bacteria to help fight off bad bacteria. People who are suffering from IBS have an imbalance of good and bad bacteria.

Intestines Are Clogged – Because so many people are eating poor diets, their intestinal tract is clogged with “stuff” (poop, mucous, and yeast) and this starts to eat away at the lining of the stomach and intestines. This is why people experience spasms, cramps, and other pain.

Stress – Stress is the number one reason why so many people’s health are suffering. When we “stress”, our body tightens up and this makes it hard for our digestive system to function properly. It is important that people learn to relax so that they can have healthy bowel movements.

What are symptoms of IBS?

Symptoms include spasms, flatulence (gas), bloating, cramps, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation and any other abdominal related issue where they can no longer digest foods properly or have a healthy bowel movement.

What foods trigger IBS? [green_plus_list]

Fat

Oil

Dairy

Gluten (wheat)

Vinegar

Refined sugar

Artificial sweeteners

Alcohol [/green_plus_list]

Is there a way to cure IBS?

Yes there is!

Do not let the medical community fool you into thinking that you have to take drugs or have some form of surgery where they remove parts of your stomach or intestines. What people need to understand is that our body can heal itself if you just leave it alone!

Just like our skin and bones regenerate themselves, so can our intestines and organs. Think about it for a moment: does the medical community heal your skin if you scrape your knee? Does the medical community heal your bone if you break your arm? Of course not!

Our bodies are amazing machines that can fix themselves. What people must do are two things:

1. Eat the proper foods for about six to nine months that allows their stomach to heal

2. Take the appropriate natural supplements that help remove the “junk” from their stomach and intestines.

Once they cleanse themselves thoroughly, they will cure their IBS.

Is their a specific program people must follow?

Yes. For those on a budget and feel they do not need any help or support I recommend a system called “The Natural Stomach Solution” which you can find here. I think she only charges $37 and it is a complete system from start to finish that will heal your IBS. I believe she even offers a 60-Day money back guarantee.

I also offer custom programs for clients that start at $175 per session

For those who can afford my fees of $175 per session, I work with many patients and help them cure their IBS and can put them on a custom program. For more information I can be reached at drjohnadams135@gmail.com

Jess’ Bee Natural is a natural business specializing in high quality skin care. Our lip balms and lotions are produced in small batches using some of nature’s purest ingredients known for their moisturizing, healing, and soothing capabilities. Ingredients like rich organic shea butter, all natural beeswax, vitamin E, and the purest essential oils ensure that you are only putting the best on your skin. All of our products are hand poured to ensure every batch is perfect. To learn more go here

The Natural Stomach Solution

Do you or a loved one suffer from some form of digestive health issues such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), crohns, disease, ulcerative colitis, stomach aches or cramps, bloating, colon cancer, acid reflux, diverticulitis, or celiac disease? Well then you are in luck because after 3 painstaking years of suffering from digestive health issues, Sara Thompson has not only cured her IBS and crohns disease, but has put together her entire system from start to finish so that anyone can easily follow it without having to think. Don’t let the medical community fool you into thinking you have to take drugs or get surgery, you can heal your tummy all naturally and live a normal life. To learn more go here.

Savory Raw Dinner Recipes

Have you or a loved one been thinking about eating more raw foods but just lost or confused on how to go about it? Many people think that eating raw food is just about eating salads and fruit and this is not true! Now more than ever their are tasty recipes and methods for eating raw and having yummy food. In Veronica’s book you will get 10 savory recipes. These new recipes have been designed to be as tasty AND as healthy as possible to appeal to your taste buds! They’re the perfect compromise between ultra-low fat and simple recipes that can be repetitive over time, and ultra-gourmet recipes that are too complicated and high in fat. To learn more go here.

MP3 Meditation Club

Have you been wanting to try out meditation but have a hard time sitting there? Meditation is one of the best ways to lower stress and ease anxiety without the use of drugs yet so many people struggle with getting their start. There are MP3 audio programs that produce certain sounds and frequencies that penetrate the subconscious mind and make it much easier for you to learn mediation and they are called binaural beats. These beats calm your mind and allow you to focus on your breath and not get distracted if you were just trying to meditate on your own. With the MP3 meditation club, you can access the benefits of mediation within minutes and start to feel less stress. To learn more go here

Vision Without Glasses

Did you know that there is a natural way to improve your eyesight without wearing glasses or eye contacts? In fact, did you know that glasses and eye contacts can actually damage your eyes even more? Sounds hard to believe right? The truth is that if you have poor eyesight, this is due to a lack of certain nutrients in your body along with some other issues that can be cured naturally. When you wear eyeglasses or contacts, you actually are using a crutch for your eyes which makes them more dependent on those things instead of allowing your body to fix your eyes on their own. With proper nutrition and certain exercises, you can have your eyesight back without having to wear glasses or contacts. To learn more go here.

Ta’i Chi For Life

Give the gift of peace and vitality by helping your loved one learn the ancient art of Tai Chi. For thousands of years the Chinese have been practicing this art to help them alleviate stress, worry, anxiety, etc…Tai Chi is the art of balancing movement and breath so that you can find your center and calm your mind. However many people have a hard time finding classes in their area. With Tai Chi for life, the course and material offers very descriptive and illustrated artwork that make it very easy for the person reading it to follow along. In Less Than 10-Minutes Per Day, T’ai Chi Can Help You Get Back In Shape, Sort Out Your Diet And Give You A Balanced Exercise Routine Where You Don’t Even Get Out Of Breath! To learn more go here.

The Unexplainable Store

If you are familiar with The Secret and The Law Of Attraction then this is for you! Have you ever wanted to learn astral projection, lucid dreaming, chakra opening, aura viewing, how to manifest your reality, and all other sorts of alternative “fun stuff”? Well now you can with the easy to use products from the Unexplainable Store. With these simple to use audio programs (binaural beats), you can tap into your subconscious mind and learn how to access what so many of us are unaware of. To learn more go here

If you have pets, then you know they can be so cute when they are having a bad dream. They start to shake and twitch and it can be quite fascinating to watch. Here is a great video on how to stop a baby kitten from having a bad dream. Enjoy : )

Have you ever noticed how so many of us dream of being on an island? This image we have is just a state-of-being. It’s a symbol that represents how we want to feel.

It seems as we get older life gets faster and things are moving at a pace that can feel a bit overwhelming. With the holidays here this can feel even more so.

Here are 10 ways to unclutter your mind:

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1. Anytime you feel overwhelmed, just stop and take 5 breaths. Close your eyes, and when you open them pretend you are hitting the restart button.

2. Accept what is happening in the moment and go with the flow instead of fighting it

3. Be kind to yourself and never judge the situation.

4. Release your fear and trust that no matter what you will be okay.

5. Let go of trying to control the situation. This can just make things worse.

6. Ask yourself what is most important right now. Then visualize this.

7. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. None of us are perfect.

8. Look for what is not working for you and then let it go.

9. Smile and think of something that makes you happy.

10. Remember your inner child when everything was about “playing” and come from this state of being/mind.

Need more help relieving stress? Check out The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook which offers a step-by-step techniques for calming the body and mind in an increasingly overstimulated world. Now in its sixth edition, this workbook, highly regarded by therapists and their clients, remains the go-to source for stress reduction strategies that can be incorporated into even the busiest lives.